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2007-2008 Academic Year Grants

The Guilford Fund for Education approved the following grant applications in 2007-2008.

Guilford Art Center: Teacher Training For Successfully Including Differently-Abled Students

The GFFE awarded a grant to the Art Center to provide training for their youth program faculty to enable the Center to better accommodate current and future students with various learning challenges. The Guilford Art Center (GAC) is committed to the arts as a means to improve the lives of individuals. Since the arts offer opportunities for free expression, students of all abilities often discover power in their own creativity, and can acquire new levels of understanding. Faculty training will be performed by SARAH KIDSTEPS.

Guilford Lakes School: Digital Photography in Art

We live in a highly visual world, with all indications pointing towards ever-increasing use of digital multimedia as a standard for expressing information and communicating ideas. To adequately prepare students for future learning, visual literacy in design and aesthetic concepts must be included alongside written language and verbal skills. To this end, Guilford Lakes art teacher Joe Bernier was awarded a grant to introduce digital photography to the 331 Guilford Lakes students in grades 1 through 4 through an ongoing series of instructional units. To achieve his goal, the grant supported the purchase of 15 digital cameras. (read more - see photos)

Guilford High School: Integrated Technology Laser Innovation Project

The Guilford High School technology department currently serves 420 students in a variety of courses (16 offerings in total) ranging from boatbuilding to architectural drafting to electronics. With a commitment to preparing current department students for a wide range of careers that incorporate new technologies, the faculty of the department enhanced their methods of teaching and student methods of learning with a GFFE grant for a laser cutter. In the process, additional students, attracted to the possibilities of this "cutting edge" technology, will explore course offerings of the department as well. The hands-on potential of laser technology will transform the way students learn, thus enabling a dramatic effect on curriculum and the quality of student outcomes. (read more - see photos)

Baldwin Middle School: Classroom Performance System (CPS)

A grant was awarded to 5th grade social studies teacher John Montanaro for the Classroom Performance System (CPS), a wireless response system, which allows each student to actively participate in class discussions using a handheld touch pad. The system allows for the creation of on-the-spot questions as well as the ability to track student responses and regularly check student progress. The system can generate reports based on the collected data. It may also be integrated with Power School, the GPS grading program, and it can import questions from the social studies text question bank. By getting daily feedback from all of his students, Mr. Montanaro can better reach students who are having difficulty and provide enrichment to those that are exceeding expectations.

Guilford High School: Robotics Redux

As the Guilford High School Robotics team, "Apple Pi," begins its second year, the organizers received funding to enhance the teaching value of the program by replacing equipment in the GHS metal shop. Previously, students were obliged to watch as their mentors produced the robotics parts off-site rather than producing the parts themselves at GHS. This improvement permits the students to have a hands-on experience in the design and fabrication process. An added benefit is that the equipment will be accessible to an even larger body of students through shop department courses.

Guilford Public Schools - The Elementary Schools: Guilford Summer Instructional Symposium: First Steps Reading Course

This grant supports the pilot of a summer instructional symposium in the Guilford Public Schools. The 2008 Symposium will introduce the First Steps Reading Course, a highly respected program that trains elementary-level teachers to differentiate instruction based on the needs of the students in their classrooms. This will build on the new language arts curriculum rolled out in the district in 2007.

Guilford High School: Orchestral Composition

How many high school age music students have the opportunity to perform a world premiere of an original score written by an accomplished and esteemed living composer? With funding from GFFE and GHS Music Boosters, the Guilford High School Music Department will commission a piece of music written especially for the GHS Symphony Orchestra by an eminent composer of quality school level music, Elliot Del Borgo. The student musicians will meet and rehearse with Mr. Del Borgo prior to the premiere public performance, which will take place on election night, November 4, 2008.

Adams Middle School: A Classroom Response System...in a Science Classroom

Adams Middle School Science Teacher Diane Stevens will explore the tremendous potential for inquiry-based learning afforded by Classroom Response System (CRS) technology, incorporating it not just in assessment, but as a learning tool used in balance with a variety of activities and teaching strategies. The interconnection of available technology--a laptop computer, overhead LCD projector, Smart Board, and CRS--will make it possible for students to work together on innovative interactive websites under the direction and navigation of Ms. Stevens.

Guilford Youth and Family Services: GY&FS Summer Enrichment Camp

This request supports the experiential learning component of a new program of Guilford Youth & Family Services, a two-week summer enrichment camp for 20 participants designed to serve 10-12 year olds from low income families. This camp is intended to build social, emotional, life and survival skills for the participants. To that end, campers will participate in an adventure course, as well as martial arts, yoga, meditation and fitness workshops. Complementing these are several recreational activities.